Corn shelling and shredding machine



Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PA'l-fl-N'Ii OFFICE 2,382,040 CORN SHELLING AND SHREDDING MACHINE John A. Erickson, Jaokson, Mioh. Application August 5, 1944,*soria1No. 548,228

Y sclaims. (c1. 14e-nr' j I This invention relates to improvements in corn shelling and shredding machine.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a corn shelling and shredding machine which requires relatively little power to drive the same.

Second, to provide a machine of theclass described which required little attention on the part of the operator or user.

Third, t provide a combined corn shelling and 'cob shredding machine which is not likely to become clogged in use.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, parts being broken away to disclose structural details.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section on a line corresponding to the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe rotor.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated' the hopper I is in the form of an inverted cone having a cylindrical portion 2' at the bottom thereof. The housing 3 for certain driving connections and the cutter member,` and `also the conical inlet 4 of the tubular discharge chute 5, are welded together and therefore the joints are not detailed. The hopper and these parts be-l come in effect a unitary structure.

The hopper is provided with supporting legs 6 secured thereto at 'I so that the hopper con.`

stitutes the support for the underslung par-ts.

The hopper is provided with an internal spiral rib- 8 preferably of rectangular section and terminating at its lower end adjacent the lower end l, of the hopper. The spider-like shear member designated'generally by the numeral 9 is mounted Yin4 the cylindrical portion 2 of the hopper and comprises a central hub-like bearing IIJ with shear bars I I radiating therefrom, the ends of the` shear bars lbeing secured as by means of. screwsI24 to the hopper. The shear bars II Vare preferably tangentially disposed, that is, in a general tangential relation to the hub or bearing IU.

The shaft I3 is rotatably mounted in the bearing I0. The bearing is provided with an enlargement I4 at its lower end and with an adjustable thrust bearing I5 in supporting engagement wit the upper end thereof. The bearing I5 is threaded upon the shaft I3. The shaft I3 projects albove the thrustbearing I5 to receive the hub I5 of the conical rotor I'I. Thisotor is secured by the screw I8 and the k'ey or spline I9 tothe shaft, the rotor being eccentrically disposedrelative to the shaft as shown by full lines in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The rotor is provided with a-spiral rib 20 preferably of rectangularsection and comprising at least two substantially complete coils or convolutions about the rotor. The upper end of the rib terminates adjacent-the upper end of the rotor and the lower end adjacent the lower end of the rotor as shown in Fig. 4. The bottom of the rotor is o-f Vsuch diameter relative to the hopper that cobs can be discharged downwardly from the hopper. The .ribs and the frictional engagement of the ears of corn with the rotor and the walls of the hopper effectively shell the Icorn and act to kfeed the same downwardly, discharging the cobs and the shelled corn through the spaces between the shear bars.

A cutter member 'designated Igenerally by the numeral 2| is mounted on the lower end of the shaft and comprises the hub portion 22 which is keyed to theshaft at 23 with'fblades 24 radiating fromthe hub portion :and connected at their buter ends bythe rim125. The rim is provided with gear teeth 26 'so the cutter is in effect a gear,

the spokes of lwhich constitute cutters -coactingwith the shear bar. The shear bars being angularly disposed relativeto the radialinsures a draw cut actionv between the blades 'andthe shear bar.

The cutter is driven by the pinion 2B mounted on vthe upper end ofthe shaft-21. On the lower end of this shaft is a .worm pinion 28 with which the driving worm 29 coacts. The shaft 30 of the discharge -screw 3| rotatable within the chute 5 is in alinernent with the shaft 32 of the driving lworm 23 and isV connected'thereto. The shaft 32 is provided witha pulley 33 .connected by the belt 34 to the pulley 35 of the electric motor 36 which is mounted on thel support 3l`A carried by the supporting legs. l

In order to. adjust the cutter in proper` relation tothe shear member and retain it in such adjusted position, the thrust bearing member I5 is provided with a plurality of keywaysl 38, four being illustrated, while the shaftis provided with at least two keyways 39 :adapted toreceive the feather vor key I9, see Fign.`

With this arrangement of parts a very powerful driving connection is provided for the motor to the cutter and rotor. The structure illustrated is of a size designed to be used by farmers, one object being Ato provide a machine which can be operated at a very small cost and to prepare the grain as needed; that is, instead of preparing a considerable amount of grain which, unless it is thoroughly dry, is likely to result in moulding and deterioration, the machine permits preparation of the grain in batches as required. The hopper can be connected to a feed chute or otherwise provided to deliver the desired quantity, the machine set in operation, and the farmer can go about his chores or other work. 'Ihe rmachine is strong and rigid andl is not likely to become clogged. The ears of corn are fed downthe lower end thereof, a spider-like .shear member disposed at the bottom of the hopper and comprising a central vertical bearing and a pluv rality of shear bars radiating tangentially therewardly at the proper rate and discharged to the cutter which cuts or shreds or crushes the cobs.

It will be noted that the blades are not sharp in' the sense of having a cutting edge, as they are designed mainly to reduce the cobs as desired with a crushing action, although there is some shearing and cutting action.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a. highly practical embodiment which, as stated, is designedfor individual use and to be successfully operated by a motor of small horsepower. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments of "themrnvention as `it is believed the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adaptv the inven-l tion as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A corn shelling and shredding machine comprising an inverted conical hopper provided with supporting legs and having an internalspiral rib of rectangularvv section terminating adjacentl the lower end thereof, a spider-like shear member disposed at the bottom of the hopper and comprising a central vertical bearing'and` a plurality of shearv bars radiating tangentially therefrom and secured at their outer endsV to the wall of the hopper, a shaft disposed in said bearing and provided with a thrust bearing having threadedengagement therewith. and coacting with the upper end of' said bearing, a conical rotor eccentri'eallyA mounted on the upper end'of said shaft and having a-n ei'rterrialv spiral rib of rectangular section and cor-mnrising two substantially complete coils and terminating at its upper end adjacent the upper end of the rotor and at its lower end' adjacent the lower end thereof; theribs coacting tofeed the grain downwardly and to shell the same, the lower endV of the rotor being spaced from the hopper walll to permit the downward discharge of the cobs, a cutter member mounted on said shaft below said shear member and comprising a plurality of;V radial blades co-` acting with said shear bars andI having a rim provided with gear teeth, a pinion coacting with said gear teeth, a. shaft for `said pinion provided with drivenworm gear, a drivingwornfi` gear coacting with said driven worm gear, a tubular discharge chute provided with an inverted conical inlet disposed below said cutter, and av discharge screw within said chute provided with a shaft disposed in axial alinement with and' connected to said driven worm gear.

2.. A corn shelling and shredding machine comprisingy an inverted conicalV hopper' provided withv supporting legs and havingan internal. spiral, rib of yrectangular section terminating. adjacent from and secured at their outer ends to the wall of the hopper,va shaft disposed in said bearing and provided with a thrust bearing having threaded engagement therewith and coacting with the upper end of said bearing, a conical rotor eccentrically mounted on theupper end of said shaft and-,having an external spiral rib of rectangular section and comprising two substantially complete coils and terminating at its upper end adjacent theupper end of the rotor and at its lower end adjacent the lower end thereof, the ribs coacting to feed the grain downwardly and to shell the same, the lower end of the rotor being spaced vfrom the hopper wall to permit the downward discharge of the cobs, and a. driven cutter member mounted on said shaft below said shear member and comprising a y'plurality of radial blades coacting ywith said shear bars.

3. A corn shelling and shredding machine comprising an inverted conical hopper having 'an internal spiral rib terminating adjacent they lower end thereof, a shear member disposed at the bottom of the'hoppe'r and comprising a central vertical bearing'and la plurality ofv shear bars radiating therefrom and secured atr their outer ends to the wall of the hopper, a shaft disposed in said bearing, a conical lrotorec'centricallv mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having an external' spiral rib, the ribs coacting to feed the grain downwardly and.' to shell the same, the lower end' of the rotor being spaced from the hopper wall to permit the downward discharge of the cobs,: a cutter member mounted on said shaft below said shear member'and comprising a plurality of blades coacting with said shear bars andy having arim provided with' gear gear, a drivingworm gear coacting with-"said driven wormv gear,y a tubular discharge chute provided with an inverted conical inlet disposedbelow said cutter, and adischarge screwr within said chute provided with 'asl'iaftdisposedl inA axial alinement with and connected tosaid driven 4. A -cornV shelling and' shredding' machine comprisingan inverted conical hopper havin an internal spiral ribterminating adjacent the lower end thereof, a shear member disposed at the bottom 'of the hopper'and comprising a central vertical bearing and a plurality of shear bars radiating therefrom and secured at their outer ends to the wall" of -the hopper, a shaft disposed in said bearing, a conicali rotor eccentrically mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having an external spiral rib, the ribs coacting to feed the grain downwardly and to shell the saine, the lower end ofY the rotor being spaced from the hopper Wall to permit the downward discharge of the cobs, anda driven cutter member mounted on said shaft below saidr shear member and comprising a plurality of blades coacting with said shear, bars. i

5. In a structure ofthe class described, the combination'of an inverted rconical hopper provided with an internal spiral rib of rectangular.

bars radiatingl tangentiallytherefrom and se.- curedat their outerr ends to the wall ofthe hopper, a shaft carried by said shear member, a conical rotor eccentrically mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having an external spiral rib of rectangular section and comprising two substantially complete coils and terminating at its upper end adjacent the upper end of the rotor and at its lower end adjacent the lower end thereof, the ribs coacting to feed the grain downwardly and to shell the same, the lower end of the rotor being spaced from the hopper wall to permit the downward discharge of the cobs, a cutter mounted on said shaft below said shear member and comprising a plurality of radial screw within said chute, and a driving means for said cutter and screw.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination of an inverted conical hopper provided with an internal spiral rib of rectangular section, a shear member disposed at the bottom of the hopper and comprising a plurality of shear bars radiating tangentially therefrom and secured at their outer ends to the wall of the hopper, a shaft carried by said shear member, a. conical rotor eccentrically mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having an external spiral rib of rectangular section and comprising two substantially complete coils and terminating at its upper end adjacent the upper end of the rotor and at its lower end adjacent the lower end thereof, the ribs coacting to feed the grain downwardly and to shell the same, the lower end of the rotor being spaced from the hopper wall to permit the downwarddischarge of the cobs, and a driven cutter mounted on said shaft below said shear member and comprising a plurality of radial blades coacting with said Vshear bars.

comprising a plurality of shear bars radiating' therefrom and secured at their outer ends to the wall of the hopper, a shaft carried by said shear member, a conical rotor eccentrically mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having an external spiral rib, the ribs coacting to feed the grain downwardly and to shell the same, the lower end of the rotor being spaced from the hopper wall to permit the downward discharge of the cobs, and a driven cutter mountedv on said shaft below said shear member and comprising a plurality of radial blades coacting with said shear bars.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination of an inverted conical hopper having an internal spiral rib at the lower end thereof, a shear member mounted at the bottom of the hopper and comprising a central vertical bearing and a plurality of shear bars radiating therefrom, a shaft carried by said bearing, a conical rotor eccentrically mounted on the upper end of said shaft to rotate within said opening, said rotor having an external spiral rib, the ribs coacting to feed the grain downwardly and to shell the same, the lower end of the rotor being spaced from the hopper to permit the discharge of cobs, and a driven cutter member mounted on said shaft below said shear member and comprising a plurality of blades coacting with said shear bars.

JOHN A. ERICKSON. 

